Leather or suede steering wheel covers?

nigelmercier

nigelmercier

RIP
Joined
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Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
www.bavariayacht.info
Following on from another thread:

nigelmercier said:
Indeed, hence my question about alternatives.

http://clydemarineleather.com/prod_wheel.html
http://www.boatleather.co.uk/buy-online
http://www.calibramarine.com/

Now I've got a new sewing machine, at £80 each I might have a go at making them. See new reply below...

...

Wheel diameter 810mm, circumference 2545mm, two parts with joins at 180°
Rim diameter 22mm ± 0.5mm, circumference 69mm
Lace holes at 10mm spacing, 5mm to edge. Leather 1mm thick.
Click to expand...

Bottom line is that none of the leather suppliers can provide this, so I'm looking for ready-made covers. I've already got some links above, any recommendations?

Current grips are suede, is leather better?
 
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I prefer suede than leather as it feels grippier with a lighter touch. This is from sitting on the side decks with a large, single wheel where finger pads pressed against the wheel with suede provided better grip compared to leather. However, both look good when new and both work well. The suede definitely got dirtier, faster than the leather wheel coverings. Experience is from working with a charter fleet of yachts. I plan to replace the very worn leather with suede on my own yacht's wheel.
 
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The Goiot wheel on my boat had a brown leather rim which went to look very scruffy when patches of brown started to wear off.
I have gone all over it with a wire brush (suede shoe brush) and now it's like a Lewmar one. Looks and feels better.
 
I used a BoatLeather kit, with suede finish and closed-cell foam padding. Excellent kit, the foam padding works well to give warmth and grip, the stitching instructions are easy to follow and the result looks better than DIY!

IMGP1867.jpg
 
I think those kits are very good value for money. I couldn't afford to match that price. But then again I am a one man band and everything is hand stitched/bespoke.

If you know what your doing a search on google for leather suppliers will quickly turn up lots of good value leather though.
 
prv said:
That looks good - will have to do the same!
Click to expand...

...and I've just fired off the order :)

Quite a bit pricier than some UK suppliers, but nobody else seems to do the foam backing and I imagine that will make quite a difference to our skinny wheel. Looking at their instruction video on Youtube, the leather is also clearly thicker than some of the thin suede covers I've encountered on other boats.

Pete
 
prv said:
...and I've just fired off the order :)

Quite a bit pricier than some UK suppliers, but nobody else seems to do the foam backing and I imagine that will make quite a difference to our skinny wheel. Looking at their instruction video on Youtube, the leather is also clearly thicker than some of the thin suede covers I've encountered on other boats.
Click to expand...

You won't regret it, the foam padding gives a lovely chunky feel to the rim. It's now over 10 years since I did mine, and it still looks good.
 
We got our local trimmer to make one for our boat. It is in black leather with a thin neoprene inner. It looks good, feels great and is much warmer.
He marked the centre with a two inch red leather patch, slightly proud so it can be felt in the dark.
He has a good track record-he trims all the seats and steering wheels for Williams F1.
It was about half the price of a bought one.
 
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